PRICE, JR. VINCENT LEONARD (1911-93)
Price: $575.00
Description:American actor, art historian, art collector, and gourmet cook. Mr. Price appeared on stage, television, and radio, and in more than 100 films. He had two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one for motion pictures and one for television. It was this dealer’s privilege to review Mr. Price on stage in John Gay’s Diversions and Delights and to correspond with him for ten years.
ISP – Inscribed Signed Photograph: Vintage (1956) 11″x14″ black and white, heavy-weight, studio image of the actor, bearing a bold inscription from Mr. Price to the photographer (a newsman for a Ft. Lauderdale publication). Reads: Dear Roy: Thanks for taking this early photo of a familiar old face – all my best, Vincent Price. Under his name he adds 1 8 5 6. Professionally matted under museum-grade conservation glass and encased in a dark wood frame. In more than 50 years as a dealer, this is the best early signed photograph we have ever offered of Mr. Price.
Sadly, perhaps, Vincent Price is known to younger generations as the ultimate master of the macabre for his lead role in many horror-genre films. He first appeared on screen in the 1938 comedy Service de Luxe. Five years later he co-starred in The Song of Bernadette. He went on to star in Laura, the Keys of the Kingdom, Dragonwyck, and The Ten Commandments. He established himself in the horror genre with roles in House of Wax, William Castle’s House on Haunted Hill, The Fly, The Tingler, Witchfinder General, The Abominable Dr. Phibes, and the over-the-top horror-satire Theatre of Blood. Mr. Price collaborated with Roger Corman in House of Usher, The Pit and the Pendulum, The Haunted Palace and The Masque of the Red Death (all adaptations of Edgar Allen Poe works). He also appeared in the TV series Batman as Egghead.
Mr. Price voiced the villainous Professor Ratigan in Disney’s animated film The Great Mouse Detective, and appeared in the drama The Whales of August, which earned him an Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male nomination. His final film was Tim Burton’s Edward Scissorhands.
Price was an avid art collector and art consultant for Sears, Roebuck & Co. He lectured and authored books about art (see elsewhere in this catalogue). Owing to a major bequeathal from his estate, the Vincent Price Art Museum at East Los Angeles College was created. Mr. Cook also was an epicurean and authored books on food. Vincent Price was a true Renaissance man.
NOTA BENE: Better images furnished upon request. Taken late in the day at an angle. Apologies. Clearly I am not Yousef Karsh.